Champions Trophy: India Lands in Dubai with Ambitions High
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Synopsis
The Indian cricket team has landed in Dubai, gearing up for the ICC Champions Trophy. Led by Rohit Sharma, the squad is ready to face challenges, including a key match against arch-rivals Pakistan. Despite the absence of Bumrah, confidence is high following a recent ODI series victory.
Key Takeaways
- India's cricket team has arrived in Dubai for the ICC Champions Trophy.
- Rohit Sharma leads the team, following BCCI's travel protocols.
- Key players include Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja.
- India's first match is against Bangladesh on February 20.
- Anticipation builds for the clash with Pakistan on February 23.
Dubai, Feb 16 (NationPress) The Indian cricket team arrived in Dubai on Saturday night, laying the groundwork for their eagerly awaited ICC Champions Trophy journey. The squad, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, complied with the latest travel guidelines from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), traveling as a cohesive unit.
With the tournament scheduled to unfold across Dubai and Pakistan, India's Group A matches will take place at the Dubai International Stadium. The event kicks off with the opening match in Pakistan on February 19.
Key players spotted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai before their departure included Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy. Middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer, all-rounder Axar Patel, and fast bowlers Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh also joined the team. Hardik Pandya was the last to board, completing India's formidable traveling squad.
Although star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is sidelined due to a lower back injury, the team remains optimistic. Coming off a commanding 3-0 ODI series victory over England, the squad is buoyed by their recent success.
Fast-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana has been named as his replacement, while wrist-spinner Varun Chakravarthy has also been brought in at the expense of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was initially part of the provisional squad. Jaiswal now joins Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube as non-traveling substitutes.
As two-time Champions Trophy winners, India will commence their campaign with a critical match against Bangladesh on February 20. However, the spotlight will be on their highly awaited clash with arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23 — a match that consistently electrifies cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
The group stage will conclude with a pivotal encounter against New Zealand on March 2, a game that could be crucial in determining India's route to the knockout phase.
India's squad for the ICC Champions Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (v-c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.
